The investor consortium acquiring Air Lease Corporation has appointed the executive management team that will lead the business as Sumisho Air Lease Corporation following completion of the transaction.
Peter Barrett, chief executive of SMBC Aviation Capital, announced the appointments on behalf of co-investors Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield. The acquisition, announced in September 2025, is expected to complete in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Noriyuki (Nori) Hiruta has been appointed chief executive officer, David Swan chief commercial officer and Sabrina Lemmens chief financial officer.
Hiruta is currently chairman of SMBC Aviation Capital and has spent almost four decades with Sumitomo Corporation in senior aviation and finance roles. Swan joins from SMBC Aviation Capital, where he is chief operations and sustainability officer, while Lemmens moves from Air Lease Corporation, where she serves as senior vice-president and financial controller.
Barrett said the appointments marked “an important milestone” as the consortium prepares to close the transaction, adding that the team combines experience, continuity and new leadership for the business’s next phase as Sumisho Air Lease.